Working to boost the economy
while protecting human health
and the environment, the United
States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has awarded the
Northeast States for Coordinated
Air Use Management (NESCAUM)
a $400,000 grant to help retrofit
construction equipment that
is leased to construction projects
throughout the Northeast. Placing
emissions controls on this equipment
slashes harmful pollutants from
diesel engines, which can directly
impact people’s health. The
check was presented to Paul
J. Miller, NESCAUM deputy director
by George Pavlou, EPA’s top
local official, at a ceremony
at H.O. Penn Machinery in the
Bronx, a Caterpillar Equipment
dealer with locations through
the Northeast.

To learn more about funding
and grant opportunities currently
available, and to apply before
deadlines, visit this
EPA web page.

“Construction equipment is often
leased, and getting rental facilities
to put pollution controls on
their equipment means cleaner
air for communities everywhere
the leased equipment is used,”
said Pavlou, acting EPA regional
administrator.

NESCAUM, a clean air association
of the eight Northeast states,
will use the EPA grant to retrofit
diesel-powered rental construction
equipment operating in the six
New England states, New York
and New Jersey. According to
equipment inventories, as much
as 25 percent of construction
equipment in these areas is
owned by rental companies, which
is often not equipped with available
clean diesel technology. NESCAUM
will also work with the construction
industry associations in the
region and with the manufacturers
of emission control devices
to aid vehicle retrofits and
target rental companies, provide
guidance in selecting vendors
and technologies, and facilitate
competitive bids for the control
technology and its installation.
The retrofit project runs from
December 2008 through December
2010.

Throughout the nation, EPA is
helping diesel grantees use
the funds to implement clean
diesel projects that will cut
thousands of tons of diesel
emissions, including particulate
matter and nitrogen oxides.